The only reason for Cheng Hong to keep pushing forward despite being exhausted.
Is the beautiful life in the future.
Baimu believed that at times like these, everything is just an illusion except for the imminent benefits, so whenever Cheng Hong slowed down, he would use similar words to provoke him.
With the increasing provocations, it was clear that Cheng Hong's expression was becoming more agitated, yet his footsteps were stronger.
However.
As if fate was toying with them, their journey was always filled with hardships and difficulties.
Just as they reached the fork where they had previously encountered Graveler, crisis struck again!
From the cave on the left, a tank-like, earth-gray four-legged Pokémon charged out, carrying a constantly wailing male on its back, whose right hand was twisted abnormally.
When their eyes met, Baimu's brows furrowed quickly, despair filled Cheng Hong's eyes, and Chaitian's face of panic and pain quickly transformed into surprise and malice.
"Hahaha! Do you think wearing a mask will make me not recognize you? Rhyhorn! Kill him for me!"
His roar soon echoed throughout the cave.
"Run! Quick, run forward!"
Baimu managed to free one hand and quickly took out a violet sphere from his pocket and smashed it to the ground.
Bang!
The sphere exploded, and violet fog quickly enveloped the junction.
The [Smoke Ball], a tool that can confuse Pokémon's vision and scent, is not cheap.
The fleeing Rhyhorn wasn't interested in chasing, and without a target, it became even more sluggish.
Chaitian yelled repeatedly out of anger.
In the fog.
Cheng Hong, who was behind, quickly overtook Baimu, though he was already on the brink of exhaustion, he suddenly erupted with new energy, causing him to sprint faster than before.
"Safety first! Just let them go for now!"
Baimu whispered a reminder that there was no need to bother saving anyone at a time like this when their own lives were at stake.
"You drop! If you drop, I'll drop!" Cheng Hong resolutely refused, not turning his head even once, yet still certain that the former was holding two others.
Idiot!
What's the point of this now? Give up when you need to!
Clenching his teeth, Baimu perceived tremors from behind and knew that Rhyhorn had pinpointed their escape route.
No chance, both of them were covered in strong smells of sweat and blood, of course it could sense them.
And this Pokémon was extremely swift when sprinting on a straight path, even in his prime, Baimu couldn't outrun it, now he was carrying two people…
"Run! Keep running! Let's see how far you can get!"
Chaitian's resentful voice reached them from afar.
This guy transferred all his pain into intense hostility, probably imagining some scenario, being noted by someone like this was indeed bad luck.
What a pity.
Baimu sighed inwardly and decisively tossed the person he was carrying to the edge of the cave, the exit was probably less than five hundred meters away, even up a steep slope, he'd only need over a minute carrying two people.
Such a pity.
May the two of you find safety.
Perhaps Chaitian would focus on chasing them and leave those two alone, granting them a slim chance of survival.
"I've acted! Don't hesitate anymore!"
He shouted, using his other hand to untie the ropes on him.
Then, an abrupt scream from Chaitian came from behind.
"Ah! What is this! Where did this guy come from!"
Baimu dropped the person from his back, and without slowing his pace quickly turned his head for a glimpse, faintly seeing a silver flash explode in a magnificent display!
Pokémon's cries followed.
"Gruh!!"
"Hooroo!!"
—Aron!
Baimu wouldn't forget this familiar sound; he had been startled by it twice in his panic before.
It followed them again?
Was it now clashing with Rhyhorn and Chaitian?
Aron…
Rumble—!!
Violent tremors and falling stones interrupted Baimu's thoughts, turning his head again, he saw rocks falling from above and blocking the path behind.
Chaitian's screams and the cries of the two Pokémon were drowned out, completely isolating him from the pursuit, like a descending gate.
A gate named safety.
Baimu: "…"
He abruptly stopped, quickly turned, and rushed to where the first person had been dropped, picked them up quickly then pulled the second person.
Cheng Hong, at the front, was just about to drop someone when he instinctively turned his head to see Baimu's actions, looking somewhat bewildered.
"Did you really drop them? Wait, why did you drop them and pick them back up?"
"Shut up, keep running."
Baimu didn't waste any more words, focusing straight ahead.
Cheng Hong intended to ask what had happened but seeing his serious gaze, he kept quiet and followed along.
Little did he expect that as Baimu ran faster, despite the steep uphill path, he quickly widened the gap to over ten meters and it continued to stretch.
"Eh? Eh??"
Only at this point did Cheng Hong realize that Baimu could have been out already if he hadn't looked out for him.
—
"Aaaah! Where did this guy come from! Quickly finish it off!"
The human's impotent angry roar echoed through the mine.
Aron lifted its head, glaring at the snorting, seemingly furious Rhyhorn, its expression slightly wary.
But at this time, it was pondering something else.
Has that boy made it out?
I hope so.
At first sight, it was astonished beyond measure, never expecting to meet again. Later, it found that only eyes and hairstyle were similar, their faces were entirely different.
Yeah.
It was abandoned, left in this unfamiliar land, undoubtedly.
How could they meet again?
It had fantasized about that person coming to find it one day, but ultimately those were mere fragments of dreams. The deepest memory remains that unwavering escaping silhouette.
Hatred?
Maybe a little.
But the feeling is more of confusion, after all... why?
Why would it be abandoned?
Weakness? Slowness? Rebellion?
That's not right.
It doesn't remember being described by any similar words.
Moreover, 'Making weak Pokémon stronger is a Trainer's responsibility,' you said it yourself!
So why?
It just— doesn't understand!
"Guh!"
Aron's heart ignited with flames, choosing no longer to stay in stalemate. A silver halo enveloped its head as it charged out fiercely!
Who would have thought that Rhyhorn seemed to be waiting for this moment, its eyes revealing a fierce glare. Its forehooves suddenly rose and then heavily fell.
"Hum!"
Boom!
A powerful stomp accurately struck Aron's face, like two hefty hammers rendering it motionless.
The silver light of Iron Head flashed explosively, dispersing dust in a circle, which soon cleared.
"Is it settled? Damn thing wasting my time! Break through those stones!"
With a twisted face, Chaitian yelled, "Absolutely cannot let Baimu off! Must kill him!"
Rhyhorn turned a deaf ear, staring intently at Aron beneath its foot, which was trying to lift itself but couldn't match its strength.
Where did this little nuisance come from, daring to challenge it single-handedly? Did it really think this was a joke?
With tension mounting, Rhyhorn decided to teach Aron a lesson, yet suddenly felt a lightness beneath it.
Looking around, there was a small hole underfoot that Aron had long vanished from sight.
Playing tricks on me!?
"Humph!"
Rhyhorn's anger surged as brown-red light engulfed its legs. Ignoring Chaitian's screams, it landed heavily!
Thud!
Like a thunderous rumble!
The mine's roadway and abandoned tracks suddenly split open, forming a massive and hideous fissure. Stones from the top fell in masses, countless fragments splattered, also revealing Aron hidden underground.
Its expression quickly shifted from astonishment to panic.
The next moment.
Boom——!!
The fissure abruptly closed, earth-yellow energy exploded from it like a volcanic eruption, blasting Aron out from underground.
Pa.
Aron fell to the ground, its body bearing multiple unnatural depressions, half of its face charred black, its demeanor dazed.
It gazed upward at the approaching Rhyhorn, its scant remaining stamina leaving its consciousness hazy, myriad thoughts flickering through its mind.
Like a slideshow.
How long has it persisted? A minute? Has that boy escaped? It truly hoped he has reached safety.
After this.
If it survives, even saying goodbye to the past would be worthwhile.
In a haze, Aron's eyes glanced beyond Rhyhorn, vaguely discerning a shadow from the darkness.
He seemed like he was waving to it.
Yet, as the mind dulled, what was already indistinct faded more and more…
"Aron—!! Where are you!!"
Blinding light suddenly illuminated its vision, ears echoed with cries like roars. The silhouette shifted from hazy to solid, becoming a bright headlamp before an unknown time's collapsed rubble.
Under the headlamp, an incredibly clear face.
Ah.
How, how did it return?
Aron widened its eyes, limbs flailing erratically. A mysterious strength fed its cry.
"Guh——!!"
Run! Why come back! Run quickly!
It saw Rhyhorn slowly turn, witnessed the person upon its back's wild joy and menacing expression, struggling to stand.
Yet struck by Earth Split, it had no such strength.
From afar, the person and Pokémon finally crossed gazes, each exhibiting indescribable emotions.
Turbid, clarity, unwillingness, and a hint of relief.
And all these, eventually coalesced into a sentence.
"Don't worry, I'm here to take you home."
Baimu ignored Rhyhorn and Chaitian standing in his way, holding a hammer, revealing an incredibly radiant smile.
"Let's get out of here together."
'I'm here to take you home.'
Such a light, airy sentence.
Yet the battered Aron just froze, seemingly stunned, unable to utter a sound.
Only one figure remained in those crystal blue eyes.